Knights of Peter Claver have long history of service

Members of the Knights of Peter Claver pray during Mass. Cardinal George was the main celebrant at a Mass with parishioners of St. Philip Neri Parish, 2132 East 72nd Street in Chicago on May 20 in celebration of the parish's 100th anniversary. The cardinal dedicated a new altar during the Mass. Karen Callaway / Catholic New World

embers of the Knights of Peter Claver pray during Mass. Karen Callaway / Catholic New World

A member of the Ladies Auxiliary of The Knights of Peter Claver sings in the choir during Mass. Karen Callaway / Catholic New World

Members of
the Ladies
Auxiliary of
the Knights
of Peter
Claver stand
during Mass
at St. Philip
Neri Parish,
2132 E. 72nd
St., on May
20, 2012. Karen Callaway / Catholic New World

Members of the Knights of Peter Claver process down the center aisle at Holy Family Church prior to Mass in
2007. The Knights of Peter Claver and its Ladies Auxiliary is the nation's largest lay organization for African-
American Catholics. Karen Callaway / Catholic New World

Odell Gordon prays during a Mass celebrating the 150th anniversary of Holy Family Church on Dec. 30. Holy Family is Chicago 's second oldest church and was one of five buildings to escape the Chicago fire on Oct. 8 in 1871. Karen Callaway / Catholic New World

Knights of Peter Claver Grand Knight of Council 378 Robert Russell, Mayo Graham of Council 181, Past Supreme Steward of Council 93 James Lipkin and John Buchanan, Area Deputy of the Knihts of Peter Claver Northern District discuss the process for inducting new members before their meeting at Our Lady of Sorrows Saturday November 7, 2009. Christopher Smith / Catholic New World

Knights of Peter Claver Sir Knight Samuel Coulter and John Buchanan, Area Deputy of the Knights of Peter Claver Northern District discuss the process for inducting new members before their meeting at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish on Nov. 7. Christopher Smith / Catholic New World

By Daniel P. Smith

CONTRIBUTOR

For more than 25 years, Lena
Young has devoted time, energy
and emotion to the
Knights of Peter Claver — not
that Young, a parishioner at Holy
Angels, 615 E. Oakwood Blvd.,
would have it any other way.

Participation in the Knights of
Peter Claver and its Ladies Auxiliary,
the largest and oldest lay
Catholic organization devoted to
the African-American faithful, has
led Young to rich friendships,
deeper spirituality and a greater
sense of purpose.

“I believe in all the worthwhile
work we do for our churches, our
communities and one another,”
Young said.

Modeled after the Knights of
Columbus, the Knights of Peter
Claver delivered spiritual direction
and fellowship at a time
when the black populace was
growing in the Catholic Church,
yet struggled for acceptance.

Currently in its 104th year, four
Josephite Fathers and three laymen
founded the Knights of Peter
Claver in 1909 in Mobile, Ala.
The first group consisted of 40
African-American males and, at
the time, was termed “the most
important movement for colored
Catholics that has taken place for
many a day.”

The organization’s namesake —
St. Peter Claver — was a Jesuit
priest and missionary who dedicated
his life to the salvation of
the African slaves throughout his
work in 17th-century Colombia.
Canonized in 1888 by Pope Leo
XIII, the Spanish-born priest is
recognized as the patron of missionary
work among African peoples.

Soon after the organization’s
founding, the Knights became a
more inclusive group with the establishment
of a Junior Knights
program in 1917. Women then
joined the group, beginning with
the Ladies Auxiliary in 1922 followed
by the Junior Daughters in
1930.

The Knights quickly spread
from its Alabama base, first
touching its fellow southern states
before spreading northward during
the Depression and World War
II eras. Headquartered in New Orleans,
the Knights currently have
more than 600 councils (local
men’s groups) and courts
(women’s) as well as more than
300 Junior Councils and Courts
operating in nearly five dozen dioceses
across the country.

The volunteer-powered Knights
aim to provide support to the local
pastor and parish, largely accomplished
through service work and
charitable endeavors.

On the local level, the Knights’
courts and councils run a range of
service programs and events from
food and clothing drives to pancake
fundraisers and formal
awards ceremonies. For instance,
Court 181 based at St. Felicitas,
1526 E. 84th St., hosts the annual
Male Image Awards, an event that
raises capital for Hales Franciscan
High School, 4930 S. Cottage
Grove Ave.

Through the years, the Knights’
efforts have also supported causes
such as the National Association
for the Advancement of Colored
People, the Urban League, the
Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation
and youth tutoring programs.

“Our thing is service — to people,
to communities and to the
church,” Young said.

Charles Thompson, president of
the Northern District, one of the
Knights’ six national regions, has
been involved with the Knights
for more than two decades. A
member of the Knights’ council
based at St. Margaret of Scotland
Parish, 9837 S. Throop St.,
Thompson values the fellowship
and bonding among Catholics,
particularly through the Knights’
community service initiatives.

“It’s inspiring to know that others
care … and that they are eager
to live out and develop their faith
in Christ,” Thompson said.

The Knights of Peter Claver
came to Chicago in 1930, when
Chicago’s oldest African-American
parish, St. Elizabeth, 50 E.
41st St., founded a local chapter.
In the decades since, the Knights’
Chicago area presence has blossomed
and established itself as a
leading force. Chicago has hosted
the Knights’ annual national convention
five times, most recently
in 1995.

With about 400 members spread
across more than three-dozen
parish-level groups, the Archdiocese
of Chicago claims the largest
contingent of Knights in the
Northern District and remains
among the largest diocesan
groups in the country.

Like many other local Knights,
Young’s involvement with the organization
is a family affair. Her
daughter, Tasheika, became a Junior
Daughter while in grade
school and is now a member of
the Ladies Auxiliary alongside her
mother.

“This is something we can be
involved in and share together,”
Young said, adding that the
Knights is full of family members
— parents, siblings, cousins
— spanning generations.

“I know some that have been in
the Knights since their teen years
and are now in their 60s and 70s.”